Important - Action on Solid Waste Collection Report (Oct.14)

Yesterday, Winnipeg City Council’s Executive Policy Committee voted unanimously in favour of recommendations to award two contracts to private entities to conduct solid waste collection in the city of Winnipeg for seven years. Despite requests from CUPE Local 500 and the Winnipeg Labour Council to consider extending the current contract with Emterra to enable time for CUPE 500 and the City to sit down and discuss opportunities to have the work performed by public sector workers, EPC voted to move forward with the contracts. This was also done despite recent released polling showing that 59% of Winnipeggers want to see solid waste collection conducted by the public sector, as well as an offer by Emterra to have its contract extended for one year to allow discussions between CUPE Local 500 and the City of Winnipeg to take place. The WLC is very concerned that this process is being rushed without proper due diligence. We are asking all affiliates and their activists to register their disapproval with this process. We believe CUPE Local 500 should be given a fair opportunity to meet with civic administration and present a case for returning solid waste collection to the public sector. This report with recommendations will be voted on at City Council on Wednesday, October 26th. Please forward this message to your activists and ensure they touch base with their respective councilors. Below are some news stories for background, as well as contact information for the various councilors.